‘That shouldn’t be right’… Paul Merson reacts to what he is hearing about 24-year-old Chelsea player

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Paul Merson has given his verdict on the prospect of Chelsea selling Conor Gallagher in the summer transfer window.

The former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit does not think that it is right that Chelsea have to offload Gallagher at the end of the season to fund a move for a big-name player.

As revealed by HITC last month, Conor Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea, and although there have been talks between the two parties over a new deal, the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners have not made an ofter to him yet.

Chelsea have FFP issues to deal with, and Paul Merson thinks that the rules have to be changed to allow rich owners of clubs to invest more.

The Blues have to raise at least £100 million by selling homegrown players if they are to avoid falling foul of breaching Financial Fair Play rules, according to talkSPORT.

Gallagher has come through the Chelsea youth academy and has established himself as one of the best and most important players in head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team.

The 24-year-old England international midfielder has scored two goals and given four assists in 25 Premier League games for the Blues this season.

Paul Merson comments on Chelsea and Conor Gallagher

Merson said on Sky Sports News (12:15 pm, March 2, 2024): “The rules need to change, and they need to change very quickly because someone like Chelsea probably have to sell Conor Gallagher, who is one of their own.

“And, they will sell him for £50 or £60 million, and then they will be allowed to buy a £100 million player from abroad. That shouldn’t be right.

“Why change the rules when you have got to probably sell one of the best players, a homegrown player? You would rather go, well, it hasn’t worked with some of the other players.”

My View: No sympathy for Chelsea

In my opinion, there should be no sympathy for Chelsea if they have to sell Conor Gallagher in the summer transfer window.

Under Todd Boehly, Chelsea have spent a lot of money and have signed a lot of players. There have also been managerial changes at Stamford Bridge.

Whose fault is that many of the Chelsea signings under Boehly have failed to do well? It is certainly not the fault of the authorities who are trying to make sure that all clubs stick to the rules and are sustainable in the long run.